Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Spin / Whatevs Buzzfest at Riverfront, 9/11/09 [Updated]
Posted by The Spin on Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 1:29 AM
This Spin post is brought to you by a production guy who begrudgingly worked the Buzzfest.
Update: More info here.
First off, since I was working this show, I didn't show up late--more like 6:30 a.m. And, by contract, I couldn't miss all of the opening bands. And, I didn't have to pay for beer or wait in those bread-line style queues for a squillion dollar Miller Lite in a plastic cup. Hell, I even scored free Hard Rock food.
Beat that, Spin.
Still, I'm taking a time-out from squeezing the gallons of rain out of my clothes to wrestle with my own internal musical and moral compass: Normally, I'd have happily tossed a few easy words together about the multifaceted nature of being a Mudvayne or Alice in Chains fan in the year...2009. In other words, I'd be all, "Mudvayne fans: Fuck you." And, "Alice in Chains fans: Fuck you."
But what really happened tonight was a royal fucking over of, you guessed it, Mudvayne and Alice in Chains fans. (Even if thousands of you "fans" were chanting "Alice AND Chains" like drunken Italian soccer fans.)
The day began without a hint of what was to come. The early afternoon's quickly swelling audience of mostly shirtless, cargo-shorts owners--clapping, cheering and sounding off like they had a pair--gave no indication of the vile, damnable creatures they would become by nightfall.
The first five bands (Everything That Rocks, Framing Hanley, Cavo, Cage The Elephant and Chevelle) brought what they could to a scatterbrained lineup--the equivalent of throwing a bunch of beer and water bottles at a wall and seeing what sticks. I'm sure that's what 102.9 the Buzz did to come up with such an incoherent bill. But the audience stayed firm and supported each band's efforts to wow, dazzle, or pretend to have fun.
The over-35-and-loving-it ETR men brought their own versions of nothing but L.A. rock jams (The Halen, The Crue, The Guns and Roses), and were followed by expensive haircut hardcore boys Framing Hanley. Cavo, touted to currently have the No. 1 active rock single in America (Really?), confused us all--we didn't know the roadies weren't playing. Cage the Elephant confused even more shirtless drunken middle-aged men with their non-Alice in Chains-ness. I mean, people were there to fist fight over corndogs until fucking Alice melted their faces. Bro.
Then, directly after Chevelle had put the finishing touches on their trite set--and our wills to live--the heavens opened.The crowd when they were still merely drinking from their bottles.
OK, reality check time: This was an all-metal stage on a floating barge powered by lethal voltages supplied by two diesel generators on land. And of course, this was an outdoor stage, open to the elements, God's will and completely flooded. Now it's time to do some logical thinking. Look at that ticket stub dissolving in your soaking jeans, oh person who paid for this show of all shows. Be still your beating heart: What does it say right there in the King's English? "Rain or Shine," right? Doesn't that mean you'll see your heroes come hell or high water? Not if both arrive on the same stinking horse.
At 7:30 p.m., the skies cried--and so did our production crew. What was going to happen? Under no circumstances could Mudvayne or Alice in Chains play, be electrocuted and die for you, Nashville. I mean shit, they had to get to Detroit tonight. Plus, it's in Jerry Cantrell's contract that rain makes his hair all frizzy. Could these daring bands really pull it out of their collective asses (after they found them) and save the day? Would this crowd, many thousands strong, see these gods among men slay the torrential dragon?
The answer was no. Not Mudvayne. Not Alice in Chains. And no annoucement to the crowd about what was happening. While we were backstage saving the amps, consoles, mics, instruments and high-voltage lines from an insane amount of rain and damage, the acts had to make decisions. The entire production was also ground to a halt when a generator failed, cutting power to the stage.
And guess what? People got pissed. And you know what wet and intoxicated outdoor show-goers do when shit doesn't work? They throw things. It started small, but through chants of "Rain or Shine!" and the always clever "Bullshit!" the audience hurled a hundred bottles of beer, useless water, useful shoes and even eye glasses at Mudvayne's gear. And hit the crew. And yes, you even managed to hit a few Mudvayne members who were back stage waiting for the rains to let them on. Good going.
The bands honored their fans and the show by sticking around. They just didn't know how to dodge projectiles, jeers and unruly weather to bring you what you paid for. By the time 10:30 rolled around, the rain kept coming and the violence had surged to include what seemed to be an arrest for a glass bottle thrower (who hit a cymbal onstage and subsequently, a crew member) and the cops shutting the stage and whole show down.
A shitty situation for sure: Bands couldn't play, the audience couldn't be satisfied. Somebody should have told them what was up. But throwing bottles at everybody's shit? I guess you can't ask much more from Mudvayne and Alice in Chains fans in...2009. If I would, could you?The crowd at the end of the night.
Comments (46)
Showing 1-46 of 46
If that doesn't make one believe in divine intervention then I don't know what will.
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God, I'm glad I didn't attend this show! As I said before, I didn't care for the lineup and seeing Mudvayne (post-decision to become a top 40 act) and AIC (with no Layne Staley) didn't sound like a good time. What a mess.
It's a shame that the headliners didn't get to perform but what's with the window lickers throwing shit at the stage? Did they think that the bands didn't want to perform? They wasted a trip to Nashville to basically watch a bunch of opening acts and a pissed off crowd. I'm sure they had a blast.
Let's not relegate bad concert behavior to just this genre though guys. I seem to remember a bunch of tight-jean wearing idiots ruin the stage at a Girl Talk show not to long ago. Selective memory much?
I was there. We staying loyally, completely soaked until about 8:30. I agree that a lot of immature things were going on. However, I paid my money and of course I don't want AIC or Mudvanye to get hurt, but would it have killed 102.9 to make a decision about whether or not we should cancel? Certainly, canceling was the optimum choice, but no one told us paying fans. Plus, not everyone there was shirtless and drunk. So, while I agree with your overall sentiment, try not to generalize the audience. We were cold, tired, and pissed. Blame the throwing shit on the mosh pit, not on the people waiting patiently in the corners of the park.
I was there too. We left at a quarter to ten. Someone had the balls to tell us around nine that Mudvayne was coming, and we just had to stick it out. "If you'll stand through this, so will we" they said. So we waited through a lot of the rain, and it sucked. If they would have just kept us updated on what was going on backstage, half those bottles wouldn't have ended up on the stage (or drums, for that matter).
I'm sorry that the crew members had such a horrible time with the crowd, but really, all we needed was an update once in a while.
I certainly hope though that this nightmare won't stop AIC or Mudvayne from coming back in the future.
I was there. Aside from all the snarky comments, let's put some shit in perspective.
When everyone enters the gate they are warned that if they leave that they will not be allowed re-entry. - even if you had your dissolving ticket stub. You have a tsunami spring up around 7 and there is nowhere to go unless the beer people let you in their tent or, as in our case, you waited it out under the tractor trailers.
Whoever ran this shindig made "Rain or Shine" a suicide pact so don't complain about it when the event looks like Jonestown. All the while, the lights and sounds of 2nd Avenue less than one block over beckon non-50-deep pisser lines and a warm, dry place to sit and spend money until the rain stopped.
Instead, everyone received radio silence from the radio station that ran it.
We left around 9:30 and if the people who ran the show didn't have the balls to come out and tell everyone that it was canceled they should issue some sort of refund.
Get that interview, oh Holy Insider.
I was there with my wife and many friends. We stayed until about 9:30 {now I think I'm getting sick,lol}. We had been planing this evening for quite some time and were very excited about the show. I understand that no one can control the weather but the person who decided "rain or shine" should start thinking about refunds or a make-up date.
I am 35, and a huge AIC fan. I've seen them twice now without Layne, and they're just as amazing as ever. It was too bad they didnt get to go on last night, but I never resorted to throwing anything or going on a drunken rampage. It's annoying to hear the "author" stereotyping fans of certain bands. There are idiots at any and every show, and yes, when things go bad these people tend to shine.
BTW you should use shorter sentences if you cannot stay focused on a thought long enough to write it out coherently.
The raining and shit sucked ass big time and it sucked even more that we never got to see AlC and Mudvayne although there was one band i was very excited about seeing and that was Cage The Elaphent iv been curious about this band for awhile and ws pleased with the out come of there performance. My wife and I along with friends took out around 9 p I had already been sick and did not intend on getting worse but over all it was a fun day for me.
You know fuck you to the dude wrote this article, I was in the stands till the bitter end not throwing shit on stage. The goddam ticket said rain or shine and you mother fuckers even came on stage and said if you guys are going to stick the rain out then we will too. So whah whah to you getting to sit under the fucking tent and dodge bottles eating your free hard rock food, you probably didnt even pay the $5 for a fucking beer or even $4 for a water. So go cry to your moma and give us a fucking refund.And by the way book the show in an inside venue when the ticket says rain or shine mother fucker
....and to think I was this _ close to buying the VIP ticket, as I liked the ENTIRE line up, but mostly AIC.
Thankfully my trip to vegas won out.
I was there and I must say had yall not stepped out on the stage and said...."If you guys are going to stick it out, so are we." everything would have been ok. I mean the least yall could have done was said maybe the show wont be able to go on. I didnt throw anything but I saw a group of 3 teen boys walking up and down the grass picking up every bottle they could and throwing it at the stage as hard as they could. I even told them it wasnt helping our cause and they should stop if they ever wont the band to come out and play. My point is... sure there were some immature brats that were throwing things but there was more of us that were just good people, husbands, wives, families that came out to see a good show and hear good music and we dont deserve to be dogged out when we are the ones that were screwed over. I wanted so badly to hear AIC and that was the main reason my husband and I were there. We deserve a little understanding considering the empty promise made by someone on the stage! I stood in the pouring rain for 3 1/2 hrs convinced they were going to play because SOMEONE ON STAGE SAID SO!!!
My husband and I planned for this event for a while, we are avid fans of Mudvayne, Alice in Chains, Cage the Elephant, and Chevelle and were extremely excited that they were going to be attending Buzzfest this year. My brother drove for 5 1/2 hours to visit this weekend for his birthday, in anticipation that we would have an amazing Friday night. Cage the Elephant and Chevelle were wonderful and we were very impressed, however, after Chevelle's set ended, the rain started and in 15 minutes, we were all drenched, wet, cold, and tired.
The problem I have with this article is simply the fact that there were hundreds of mature fans there who waited patiently to see the rain through for the bands they loved. I spotted many idiotic, ignorant, and immature kids who thought throwing full bottles of pop, water, and the likes at the stage, attempting to hit Mudvayne's drumset, was going to solve the problem or just make them look cool. Numerous people, including myself, told them many times that this wasn't solving anything and some even became so angry at them, they almost got into three fights in a matter of minutes. It was a ridiculous situation and after standing in the rain for 1 hour, one of the Buzzfest crew stayed backstage and over a microphone stated, "Guys, we're working on it. If you stay through the rain, so will we." This was the hope we were all looking for, thus we stayed, for 4 hours we stayed through the freezing rain. Hundreds of people began to leave, but we were there until 10:15 waiting for someone to come out on stage and let us know that the whole event was cancelled. Even the slightest, "We're sorry," would have sufficed. However, this never occured. Buzzfest crew members never came out onto the stage, never told us what was going on, never made a statement, and unfortunately, neither Mudvayne nor Alice in Chains ever played.
I understand that the crew members were upset over the bottle throwing, shoe throwing, etc. However, the hundreds of mature fans there that night, including kids and families, were dedicated to the bands and were waiting patiently to see them. It is frustrating that even those people are being simplified into one category of lunatics.
More clarification seems in order. There were 5 forces at work last night: 1) The audience 2) The Bands 3) The stage crew 4) The promoters and 5) The weather!
The promoters had the job of wrangling these issues and communicating to the crowd to best navigate the situation. Not the stage crew. Pissants like myself--hired to handle technical aspects of the show--don't make or break policies, and we don't make official announcements to the audience. This failure lies squarely on the shoulders of 102.9 The Buzz, and it looks like they're trying to make up for it.
I totally understand that and I completely agree that everyone had a difficult situation last night. It was hard to deal with what was going on from every aspect and I can't imagine how hard it would have been to try and save the equipment on stage.
That being said, 102.9 The Buzz definitely needs to make up for their lack of respect for the audience members who did patiently wait. They made no attempt to let us know the current situation and whether or not the show was cancelled.
Yeah, the audience got screwed. But this write-up is from the perspective a crew member. From the side of the stage. I mean, look at the pictures: there was only one vantage point.
If this was written from the perspective of a rightly indignant but mature fan, or maybe the all-seeing God, it would be a different blog post, of course. But that's not what this is. It's just a write-up from someone who was working the show the whole time--from the side of the stage that they couldn't leave--and saw mostly lunatics (the same ones you folks who were there saw, too) acting like wildebeests.
I gotta say that, despite the author's sentiments about last night's line up, I was excited to see these bands. So yeah, I was disappointed to see it get rained out. And I was disappointed to see so many people acting like jackasses. I mean, really? Is throwing bottles at the stage going to make anything better? I, like many people, patiently waited and stood in the cold rain (because, remember, they were confiscating umbrellas??). I left after an hour when it didn't look like they were going to be playing after all. It sure would have been nice if the people running the show could have said something. I'm so sorry to hear that so many people stuck it out for so long, and the people managing couldn't even let them know what was going on.
Well, after reading your lousy fucking article, I believe that Framing Hanley said it best. "The Nashville Scene can suck my ....!" Next time I suggest you send A journalist with a smaller stick up their ass!! YOU SUCK ! I had a great time and just cause it rained is no reason to trash the other bands. It was fun!! Loosen up and just enjoy the moment. 102.9 the Buzz ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!! And I stayed till about 9:30, threw nothing, and enjoyed every bullshit rain or shine chanting moment of it.
I grew up listening to Alice in Chains in the 90s, and fell in love with their music after listening to 'Got Me Wrong'. I still have my dusty cassette of their classic album DIRT in my car's glovebox.
And never having seen them live(RIP Layne), you can't imagine how excited I was when I found out they were headlining Buzzfest '09.
I started planning my entire week around Friday's show even calling off work just so I could see one of my favorite bands of all time, AIC, live for the first time.
Now, I can definitely say a lot of negative things, and a lot has already been said so there's no need to kick a dead horse at this point but just to get my one kick in:
102.9, please, PLEASE work out a better bathroom situation for next year. The lines to the porta potties were absolutely ridiculous and kept me from buying the over-priced beer.
I'm not a rich man by any stretch, and I look forward to any sort of make-up concert you guys have planned for us...although tickets to the Metallica show on Monday would most definitely put a smile on my face.
i was up by the stage when i started to rain and stayed loyally, completely soaked until 9:30 (earliest I've ever left a show) i would of stayed to see if they were going to come out a say that it was canceled but when all the assholes kept throwing shit on stage i know that the bands no matter what would not play, i mean if you love a band and want to see em perform you do not start to throw shit at their equipment that is a good way to make them never want to come back.
My wife and I drove 5.5 hours just to see AIC for the first time ever. This is my favorite band. My wife surprised me with VIP tickets (crappy seating-NOT worth it!). Although I did get to see AIC in person and get to talk with Jerry Cantrell and gang (VIP benefit -I guess), I was not satisfied. I wanted to hear the new AIC but no can do. 102.9 I admire your silent fucking of the people. This is first and last time I come to the Fuckfest! Screw you 102.9!!!!
For all of those who are complaining about 102.9 not telling you about what was going on, get your facts straight. What you don't know is that after the first announcement about waiting it out was made, the water shorted out the equipment and there was no way to even get a microphone to work...so, the couldn't make the announcement. Not even the generators would work. I know that they are as upset as anyone about this situation...they work for this day all year long. I also know they are working on making it right to the best of their ability.
The voice of the article aside, this was handled by production as well as it possibly could have been. I'm in charge of the roof and the lights and electricity at these things and what happened last night was pretty much a nightmare for me.
I know everyone was pissed that it got rained out, but for two hours there was nothing but uncertainty for us on stage either. A $50,000 console was ruined, several instruments, and several lighting fixtures too (from rain and bottles). Yes the generator went down, but we got it back up. The stage was soaked, but the band was willing to play. The promoter was willing to pay the INSANELY expensive fines for letting the bands play later than the noise ordinance until the show was done. But it was just too dangerous for everyone and the equipment once someone got hit in the head with a bottle, glass started exploding all over stage, lightning was seen in the area and breakers kept tripping all over the place.
The wait it out announcement was made by the Mudvayne camp when it still seemed possible. But after having their equipment and crew busted up by their fans and the weather for an hour, Mudvayne decided to load out.
There was still the possibility of Alice In Chains playing sometime around 10:00 so no one knew what to say until we had a definitive word. But the decision to NOT make an announcement was finally agreed upon by no less than AIC's camp, Mudvayne's camp, the promoter, the cops and me because of concern for all the equipment and personnel still around and the already dangerous state of the crowd.
So instead of leaving in a mob after an announcement, everyone left little by little over the course of an hour without anything else being destroyed or anyone in the audience being hurt.
Sorry everyone's night was ruined, but a lot of us were there the day before and again at 6:30 that morning to make this happen. And we stayed working in the rain until well after everyone had left. It sucked for us too.
Unexpected highlight: When the cop walked out on stage to tell the people in the front who wouldn't leave that it was over for good, he was greeted with "Take it off!!" and as he was walking away, "BOOO!!! You sexy motherfucker!!"
I went to the show. Framing Hanley was awesome, and so was Chevelle. Cage the elephant, man, i dont know. Kid looked like he was having a massive stroke half the time he was up there. Right when Chevelle ended I knew Mudvayne was next. I hopped down off the steps and made my way into the pit. Yeah, it was raining. I was loving it. It had been so hot the whole time, everyone needed to cool down. Freezing cold, being smashed by hundreds of strangers, i stood and waited. Oh yeah, I was one of the many shouting "Rain or shine." You should not put it on the ticket if it is bs. Mudvayne and Alice in chains was who many people came to see that night. And no, did you hear? I didnt say AND CHAINS. Asshole. So we do deserve some kind of refund, or to get a chance to see them. I know the people that ran this got their moneys worth, with the 769056647457 beers that got sold and with the tshirt sales, and ticket sales. We just want our moneys worth.
Metallica tickets would be the best thing you could probably do, unless you could get this whole lineup from Buzzfest back again to do another show, and give us all free tshirts.
I came to see Alice in Chains, and I hate Metallica, so speak for yourself Bethany. I don't want Metallica tickets. I want a refund or an Alice in Chains concert. Preferably something indoors and dry. Free beer would be a nice touch.
The stations no re-entry policy was the sticking point in this fiasco. While I'm sure the DJ's, station management, bands, etc were waiting it out under a tent or indoors somewhere, the paying guests had no option but to sit in the weather or go home. I hope they've learned their lesson for next time because it was their own policy that created the problems.
I wanted to go, I usually make it a family event. Even if I don't agree with the lineup. Love my locals! Another reason we need an Ampitheatre back! I just loved being rained on on the hill, mudsliding, and being jealous of those under the roof. Rain or Shine. Great job on those who ruined it for the rest of the concert goers. You gotta love that Nashville weather. I wasn't expecting that!
On the buzz website they are telling everyone that went to buzzfest should hold on to their tickets. Im sure they are making an attempt to fix this whole situation, Except one problem. I was standing in the rain last night for an hour and when i finally decide to leave I was soaked. including everything i had in my pockets. My money, my phone, 2 business cards, a white kastle receipt and of course my buzzfest ticket stub. The patient fans that waited and now dont have their stubs are still fucked while the fans that left at the first sign of rain get it made up to them. How many other people waited for hours and no longer have their stub?
I understand that it was a pretty bad night for everyone. I actually do enjoy Alice In Chains and Mudvayne, and am not trashy, or uneducated, despite what the author might perceive about fans of those two bands. I did notice a large number of... "Trashy" people while I was there, but that doesn't mean that everyone there was trailer trash. I just wanted to see the bands and have a good time. Some ignorant people wanted to throw bottles and make the night worse for everyone... Not my fault. It freaking flooded... Not my fault.
I'm just a little irritated, because last year's buzzfest was just as horrible, but without mother nature to blame. Come on, use some common freaking sense. There are a ton of drunk mother f*ckers in one place... So for god's sake, put enough porta potties out, and enough beer tents. I ended up leaving last year at about 7 or so... After spending an hour in the beer line, and then an hour in the bathroom line, and then another hour in the beer line. It was ridiculous. This year, the beer situation was better, but the bathroom situation was still awful. The rain is understandable... But I just wish that there was a little bit more planning, and I doubt seriously that I will have the confidence to buy tickets for another one of these events. I'm tired of getting ripped off by spending $40 on a ticket and not seeing any music, because of some type of crappy planning. So save the consolation concert... I don't trust those guys to put on a show anymore.
Even though it sounds like a nightmare! Things like this do happen often. Hopefully, the BUZZ will make an attempt to do something! As for THE SPIN, once again another attempt at trying to demonize what is true "Rock n' Roll" and it's fans! This city and especially this publication do an amazing job at it!
I'll wait to see what 102.9 announces as a make good in the next week or so before I get mad...
For anyone griping about driving a few hours, I flew out from Los Angeles to see Alice in Chains. Admittedly, I was already coming out to Tennessee to go to the UCLA football game on Saturday in Knoxville. However, even though I've seen Jerry play about a dozen shows over the years in LA (solo, AIC, Cardboard Vampyres, Camp Freddy, Justice Tour with Tom Morello), I thought nothing would be cooler than seeing AIC in Nashville. While if this rainout had happened in LA, I probably would've left after half an hour, I had nothing better to do and seeing AIC was THE reason that I flew to TN a couple days early, so I hung out like a wet rat in the downpour until 10:15. For all that effort and money (two extra nights in a hotel room plus food), a simple announcement with a bull horn would've been nice. At least, I guess I'll get to see Jerry again in LA later this month.
Malina, I wasn't there, and I wouldn't have gone for free (which is beside the point)...but you and your excuses can shove it.
As much money as people pay to go to concerts PLUS RIDICULOUS SERVICE FEES, to get treated like those people did is wrong. They decided the best thing for everybody was to just let those people stand out in the rain? What the hell? I'm ready to throw my water bottle at the monitor I'm staring at just thinking about it.
A $50,000 console was ruined? Oh no. I don;t guess they think about these things in advance of an outdoor "rain or shine" concert. I'm sure there's no kind of insurance on that stuff either.
And I'm so sorry that you were there early the day before and the day of and maybe the day after GETTING PAID SINCE IT'S YOUR JOB. What the hell are you complaining about? No matter what the Buzz does to "make up" for this, no one that stood out in the rain for hours or drove from out of town or bought $100 worth of beer just waiting on the headliners is ever going to get any of that time or money back.
Regardless of what kind of music people like on here, I'm sure at one point or another we've all gotten screwed over due to weather or the band canceling or whatever. The last thing you want to hear in that situation is, "What about the company who raped your pocket-book? What about our poor equipment?"
Aaaaand, while we're at it, the guy from Nashville Rock.....I don't dig on Girl Talk either, but as I recall the stage at that show was broken by people DANCING AT A CONCERT. One that actually happened. It's not like the show was canceled and then the crowd bum-rushed the stage and busted it. The most that would have happened at that show had it been canceled would be a lot of whining and runny mascara. Hahaha.
Gotta love generalizations.
102.9 sucks.
it has gotten like 103 got. redneck crap rock.
They dont really care about nashville or music. They just wanna brag they arent clearchannel. If you arent clearchannel, play what you want!
Like WRVU. I wanna hear some pixies, fugazi, poison the well, converge, rise against, etc....
I'm not making excuses, just stating facts. And my job is safety before show. You're right, I don't deserve any special treatment because I was there early, but either do the people who drove from wherethefuckever. And they sure as shit don't have any right to throw a tantrum and destroy property.
The touring personnel have months of shows to worry about. Shows that will not go as planned because the dumb fucks in Nashville decided they knew better than the people who put these shows on for a living. The show ended the way it did because of people like you who can't control their emotions. Hopefully you haven't destroyed your monitor yet and are able to read this.
Can you imagine 6000 people with your fucked up logic ready to destroy everything you need to make a living? Maybe me and my crew can throw rocks at your car if we don't like the way you deliver us pizza. That shit in insured, right?
TOUCHE!
Spelled like DOUCHE.
Coincidence? I think not.
The generalizations still though. Did every fucking person in that audience throw stuff? Was your fabulous mixer ruined by bottles and nothing else? How did glass make it in? They were taking people's umbrellas but couldn't be bothered to search for glass.
I think of people like the guy from the military who posted in the other thread on this. People with regular jobs like the pizza delivery guy. He got shitty tips and saved up to go see AIC. Not everybody there threw shit, and guess what, with this kind of show no matter what city it was in, this would have happened because the people were treated with no respect. You treat people like shit in a shitty situation and you get it back.
"The show ended the way it did because of people like you who can't control their emotions."
Really though? All I did was enter words on into a system of numbers. I didn't throw a god damn thing. Except the contents of my stomach when I heard Alice in Chains and Mudvayne were playing the same show.
ok well i have read all these comments and i must admidt, i stuck it out to the very end, till the cop walked up to me and said yeah its over! im a huge AIC fan and always will be! i didnt really care to see mudvayne too much, i think i may have one of their songs on my ipod, and as for dissing the lineup, whats that all about? who cares if the genres didnt really match up perfect? makes for a good diversity in my opinion! i really cant say anything that everyone else hasnt said, so ill say this: i stood in the rain because i am a fan of alice in chains, no other reason! i got drenched! my seats in my car have suade on them, but i devised a plan to even keep them from getting fucked up! bottom line, if u make it up somehow i will be happy! oh and melina feel free to hurl rocks at my car anytime! if u want a fist in ur fucking face! your point was good, and so was hers so just get over it!
I was there as well, with my fiance. We left after 10:00, we were soaked, pissed, and had to walk almost 2 miles back to our car in the pouring rain. I understood that you can't play a concert in the pouring rain, it's dangerous, but don't let us just stand there in the pouring rain and not tell us that your going to reschedule or give some sort of refund. I thought it was wrong of everyone to throw the bottles on stage, but I mean, it's a rock concert with a bunch of drunk people, what did you expect everyone to stand there and wait patiently? We did end up having a little fun watch drunk people slide down the hills on the top of a plastic storage container, but it didn't make up for not seeing Alice in Chains.
GREAT JOB on this write up JACKASS!!!
I was there til the end and I was just as pissed as everyone else..I didnt throw bottles but could understand why they did and I believe that they got their point across that they were pissed off about what was going on...Everyone was pissed for several reasons...
1. the ticket said RAIN or SHINE...they should have prepared the set for RAIN or just not put rain or shine on the ticket. that way if it was lite rain they could just continue to play and cancel if it was heavy. then no one would have been pissed. I was at Memphis in May's music fest and it said rain or shine and damnit it was. there was mud to my knees and rain the whole time but the bands continued to play never once pausing not even while crew members broomed water from the stage.
2. The only report made from the crew was..if yall stay we will stay...nothing else...so everyone stayed thinking they would play...People would not have been half as mad had they just came out and said Look this is an electrical issue we have to cancel the show but we will make it up to you at a later date..that would have been all too easy...
3. What really pisses me off is the fact that now on the buzz site it says...SAVE YOUR TICKET STUB AND WE WILL MAKE THIS UP...HELLO..jackass the ticket stub is made of paper...everyone was soaked..what the hell do you think happened to my wet ass ticket stub....IT FREAKIN FELL APART!!!!
WEll word to the wise at Buzz for next years planning LEAVE rain or shine off the freakin ticket!!!!!!!!
Malina, just a word from an outside viewer, looking in on this article/comments... You really aren't helping your case. I was more sympathetic toward the crew and people in charge BEFORE you started generalizing the entire attendance, and blaming us for shit that wasn't our doing. (As Anonymous covered in his response.)You just come across as defensive, arrogant, and as if you're better than everyone who was there.
On a side note, I'm not casting any blame here to anyone but the people who "planned" this stupid piece of shit. A stage... On the River... On a day with a forcasted chance of rain... With a show under a *RAIN OR SHINE* policy... With the backside and sides of the stage not covered. Really? Are you serious? Who the hell was the brainchild behind this thing? Was it a ten year old kid, doing a school project on how to put a concert together?
And thank you, whoever Anonymous is. I'm a full time student in college, and make very little money. It was a big break in the budget to spring for this concert, but I had to make it to see Alice in Chains. That's what it came down to. And, like the thousands of fellow fans around me, we got fucked. And The Buzz better hurry up and do something about all this. It's nearing a week after the show, and I can just see it being three months down the road, and we get a partial refund because, "Technically, you're admission price was partially fulfilled, being that several bands on the bill did play."
I will spare my ranting since I'm not in the mood - I've got the fucking flu now after standing out there shivering my ass off for 2 hours in the cold rain waiting on AIC.
What in the hell do we do if our ticket fell apart? I paid in cash at the gate and my ticket was completely annihilated.
Firstly, I'd like to say I was there for only one band: Alice In Chains. I did, however, sit through all of the other bands since I paid nearly $40 for my ticket (including Ticketmaster's lovely "convenience" charge), but I knew AIC would make it all worthwhile in the end.
After Chevelle had finished their set, the rain crept in over the crowd and then - with almost no warning - the skies just fell apart. As soon as this happened, seemingly most in attendance were actually in support of the torrential downpour! ...Idiots. Would've been understandable if it was the middle of the day and you could tell whether or not the storm would soon pass, but with night pretty much upon us, there was absolutely no safe bet as to when it would let up.
After a half-hour of standing and letting the gumball-sized raindrops batter the stage as well as its onlookers, I think we all expected to hear something from someone in charge, but no one appeared to be making that announcement anytime soon. Needless to say, we were a little frustrated at this point but still in (mostly) high spirits.
Once two hours had passed (and with a strong hint of what lay ahead for the remainder of the event), I made the decision to leave, as this had gone on entirely too long without word from the Buzzfest staff pertaining to the explanation of the long hold-up. Obviously, they were hoping the rain would let up (as were we all), but to leave a giant crowd such as ourselves in the dark (no pun intended) about what was being discussed amongst crewmembers for such a lengthy amount of time is what really upset everyone.
Yes, there were the jack-holes throwing bottles and garbage on the stage and I can't make any excuses for them whatosever, but there were actually people like myself who left quietly, if not for a few words of disdain under our breaths - and not for the artists, either! But for the sad display of professionalism on behalf of 102.9 The Buzz or whoever held the reigns on that regretful night (again, no pun intended).
As of today, The Buzz radio station has STILL not announced what their plans are for ticketholders who stuck it out in the rain. Even if they haven't completely decided on what's best, one would think they could at least let us in on what resolutions (if any) are being thrown around and why the wait, especially considering the show WAS NOT FREE.
I was okay before I started writing this but now I'm all pissed again.
Malina - I almost wish I had stayed to see the crowd talk to the police officer on stage they way you said they did, 'cause that shit's just hilarious.
We drove from Springfield, Mo, took 2 days off work, stayed in the pouring rain until 10:15, walked several blocks to our car, and drove 8 hours home. Yeah, it sucked. We wanted so bad to see AIC. What a terrible time. Got a story to tell to the future grand kids is all I bet we get. Lucky for us, I carried my purse in under my arm and ripped off one of the plastic banners to wrap around it to keep my phone and other things dry. It only kinda worked, but luckily the tickets dried out. not so lucky for the other two that came with us. Theirs are bits and pieces. Maybe because I bought them on line and kept the receipt, they'll get lucky and that can be accepted. That is, if they actually play. Guess we'll see. Its been over a week now.
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